Display-rack.



PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907,

- P. RUDY.

DISPLAY RACK. APPLICATION FILED MAR.2, mos.

eases:

THE NORRIS PETERS caJwAsumown, 0. c4

FRANK RUDY, or PAOLA, KANsAs.

DISPLAY-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed March 2, 1906. Serial No. 303,870.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK RUDY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Paola, in the county of Miami and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Display-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in display-racks.

The object of my invention is to provide a display-rack by which hammocks and simi-' lar articles may be displayed while occupying small space, the rack having means by which any particular hammock desired may be quickly stretched for the purpose of exhibiting to a purchaser.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, F igure 1 is a side elevation view of the display-rack, two hammocks be ing shown in dotted lines supported on the rack, one of the hammocks being shown engaged by the extensible device which engages the lower ends of the hammocks. Big. 2 is a top view of the rack. l ig. 3 is a top view of a portion of the extensible device. Fig. 4 is cross-section taken on the dotted line a b of Similar characters of reference denote similar parts.

1 denotes the vertical standard having means upon its upper end for supporting the upper ends of one or more hammocks, said supporting means comprising, preferably, a rotary member consisting of a horizontal wheel 2 rotatively mounted at its center upon the upper end of the standard 1 and having secured to the under sides of the spokes, respectively, a plurality of hooks 3, adapted each to enter and support the ring at one end of a hammock.

Connected to the standard 1 below the wheel 2 is an extensible device provided with means for engaging the lower ring in a hammock supported on one of the hooks 3. This extensible device comprises, preferably, two bars 4 and 5, slidably mounted one on the other, the bar 4 having one end connected by a hinge 6 to one side of the standard in a manner such that the bar 4 may swing in a vertical plane. The outer end of the bar 4 has secured to it an inverted-U-shaped guide 7, in which the bar 5 is slidably mounted. The inner end of the bar 5 has secured to it a U- shaped guide 8, which embraces the bar 4.

In the bar 5 is provided a transverse screwthreaded hole in which is fitted a thumbscrew 9, adapted to bear tightly upon the upper side of the bar 4 when the screw is turned in the proper direction. Upon opposite edges of the outer end of the bar 5 are secured two resilient arms of metal, the outer ends of which are separated, but inwardly curved, so as to receive between them the lower end of one of the hammocks supported on the hooks 3. Said arms are indicated by 10. Embracing and longitudinally slidable on the arms 10 is a ring 1.1, by which when the ring is outwardly moved the arms 10 may be forced together, so as to hold the end of the hammock.

In operating my invention the hammocks are all hung at their upper ends upon the hooks 3. When it is desired to exhibit the merits of a particular hammock, the wheel 2 is rotated to a position in which the hammock to be shown will be above the bars 4 and 5. Said bars are then swung outward and the lower end of the hammock secured between the arms 10, after which the bar 5 is slid lengthwise outwardly on the bar 4 until the hammock has been stretched, as shown in Fig. 1. The thumb-screw 9 is then turned so as to clamp the bar 4, thus retaining the hammock in the stretched position ready for inspection. After the hammock has been exhibited the thumb-screw 9 is released. The hammock will then swing to the vertical position, the bar 5 sliding inward on the bar 4. When it is desired to stretch another hammock, the arms 10 are released from the hammock last shown, and the operation just described is repeated with another hammock.

My invention may be variously modified without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a display-rack for hammocks and similar articles, the combination with a vertical standard, of a rotary member mounted on the upper end of the standard and provided with means for engaging and supporting the upper ends of one or more hammocks, a device comprising two members longitudinally adjustable one on the other, one of said two members being connected to said standard, and the other of said two members having means for engaging the lower end of one of the hammocks supported on said rotary member, and means for releasably locking the said two members together.

2. In a display-rack for hammocks and similar articles, the combination with a vertical standard, of a member rotatively mounted on the standard and provided with means for engaging and supporting the upper ends of one or more hammocks, a device comprising two bars slidably mounted lengthwise one on the other, one of said bars being hinged to the standard, the other bar having means for engaging one .end of a hammock supported at its other end upon said rotary member, and means for releasably locking the bars together in the position to which they may be adjusted relative to each other.

3. In a display-rack for hammocks and similar articles, the combination with a ver tical standard, of a rotary member having means for engaging and supporting the upper ends of one or more hammocks and mounted upon the upper end of said standard,- of two bars longitudinally slidable one on the other, one bar having one end hinged to the standard the other bar having at its outer end two resilient arms normally separated for gripping between them one end of a hammock, means for releasably holding said resilient arms closed, and means for releasably locking the two bars together in the position to which they may be adjusted relative to each other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK RUDY.

Witnesses:

H. L. STEVENSON, FRED STARRY. 

